All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware: 11 Key Differences

Are you shopping for new pots and pans and trying to decide between All-Clad and 360 Cookware?

In this comparison of All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware, I’ll share how these brands differ in terms of:

• Product offerings
• Construction and design
• Reputation in the marketplace
• Price
• And more

I’ll also reveal the results of my performance tests so you can learn how both brands handle heat conduction and retention.

By the end, you’ll know the similarities and differences between 360 Cookware and All-Clad and have all the facts necessary to decide which cookware is right for you.

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware: Comparison Chart
• Similarities Between All-Clad and 360 Cookware
• Differences Between All-Clad and 360 Cookware
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy 360 Cookware or All-Clad?

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All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware: Comparison Chart

This quick overview of All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware highlights the major similarities and differences between the brands.

	All-Clad	360 Cookware
Collections	D3, D5, Copper Core, HA1, Essentials, G5	360 Cookware Stainless Clad
Construction	Fully-clad stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum w/ non-stick coating	Fully-clad stainless steel
Induction-Compatible	Yes, except Essentials.	Yes
Oven Safety	Non-stick: 500°F Stainless steel: 600°F	Stainless steel: 500°F
Founded	1971	2010
Where It’s Made	Stainless steel: USA Hard-anodized: China Ceramic: Germany	Stainless steel: USA
Downsides	Uncomfortable handles, food sticks, expensive	Relatively new brand, difficult to break vapor seal, lid handle gets hot, and domed lid design looks dated
Price	$$$$ (Amazon, All-Clad.com)	$$$ (view on Amazon)

Similarities Between All-Clad and 360 Cookware

Before I break down the differences between All-Clad and 360 Cookware, let’s review the similarities.

Similarity 1: Made In the USA

All-Clad and 360 Cookware source steel for their fully-clad cookware from the United States. Additionally, both brands manufacture their stainless steel cookware in the US.

All-Clad’s factory is in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania — a suburb of Pittsburgh, known for its steel. The brand takes pride in acquiring steel from sources within a 500-mile radius of its factory.

While All-Clad stainless steel cookware is made and sourced in the US, its non-stick collections are made overseas.

360 Cookware is owned by Americraft and produces all of its cookware in West Bend, Wisconsin.

Similarity 2: Induction Compatibility

A growing number of home chefs are looking for induction-compatible cookware. In fact, the market for induction cookware is expected to grow exponentially in the near future.

Whether you choose All-Clad or 360 Cookware, you’ll be glad to know that you can buy individual stock and sets that are compatible with induction cooktops.

With 360 Cookware, any piece or set you choose is induction-compatible.

Except for the Essentials collection, every All-Clad pot and pan is induction-ready.

Similarity 3: Handles

While they are shaped differently, 360 Cookware and All-Clad handles are made from stainless steel, ergonomically designed, and stay cool on cooktops.

Similarity 4: Limited Lifetime Warranty

When buying cookware, especially premium cookware, you need a solid warranty.

Thankfully, both 360 Cookware and All-Clad offer limited lifetime warranties that guarantee defect-free products.

Both brands will repair or replace a product due to faulty materials, construction, or workmanship.

You can read the details here:

• All-Clad Limited Lifetime Warranty
• 360 Cookware Limited Lifetime Warranty

Similarity 5: Available Online

Both brands are easily accessible online.

You can buy 360 Cookware at 360Cookware.com and Amazon. You can buy All-Clad cookware at All-Clad.com or Amazon.

Differences Between All-Clad and 360 Cookware

Now that you know the similarities between All-Clad and 360 Cookware, let’s get into the differences.

Difference 1: Offerings

While All-Clad offers several distinct collections, 360 Cookware offers only one.

All-Clad’s collections include:

• D3: This is All-Clad’s original and most popular collection. It features tri-ply construction with a quick-heating aluminum core. It’s compatible with all cooktops and is oven and broiler-safe.
• D5 Brushed/D5 Polished: Technically two collections, but the finish is the only difference. One is brushed stainless; the other is polished. This 5-ply fully-clad cookware features flat angled stainless steel handles with a long divot for better gripping.
• Copper Core: A five-ply clad stainless collection with a heat-responsive copper core. The copper is sandwiched by heat-conductive aluminum, offering precise temperature control and excellent heat retention.
• HA1 Hard Anodized: This PFOA-free non-stick cookware has hard-anodized aluminum construction. The triple-layered non-stick coating provides easy food release and lasts longer than the average pan, which only has a one or two-layer coating. It also features an anti-warp stainless steel base suitable for induction cooking.
• G5 Graphite Core: This is a 5-layer stainless clad offering with a graphite core. The graphite offers greater heat conductivity than copper and is more lightweight, making it easy to maneuver.
• Essentials: This is All-Clad’s most affordable collection. It’s hard-anodized aluminum non-stick cookware, but unlike HA1, it doesn’t feature a steel base and is not induction-compatible.

All-Clad has options for those who want variety. You can choose from fully-clad stainless steel, hard-anodized non-stick, stainless steel non-stick, copper core stainless steel and aluminum, and graphite core cookware.

The longtime cookware brand can meet every cooking need at any level, from beginner (Essentials) to professional chef (Copper Core).

With 360 Cookware, you don’t get that same level of versatility. Its cookware is tri-ply stainless steel with an aluminum core — similar to All-Clad D3.

Difference 2: Construction

All-Clad offers more types of construction and materials than 360 Cookware.

Each construction features distinct performance benefits and drawbacks, giving you more to consider when choosing the best option for you.

All-Clad offers 3-ply and 5-ply fully-clad cookware. You can choose from stainless clad with aluminum, copper, or graphite cores.

You also have a choice of heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum construction as well as PTFE or ceramic non-stick interiors.

With 360 Cookware, you get 3-ply, fully-clad stainless steel. It features a highly-conductive aluminum core with thicker walls than most comparable brands (even All-Clad).

360 Cookware walls are .11-inch thick, while All-Clad D3 walls are .09-inch thick.

Even though 360 Cookware places a lot of weight on the thickness of its cookware, materials still matter.

Copper conducts heat faster than aluminum and is more responsive. Additionally, graphite conducts heat even faster than copper and has less heft.

You get those choices with All-Clad, but not with 360 Cookware.

Difference 3: Lid Design

360 Cookware pots and pans come with a unique, domed lid. It’s a stainless steel lid that fits snugly on the cookware to seal in the moisture, similar to a pressure cooker. It’s an essential part of 360 Cookware’s vapor cooking process.

To engage vapor cooking, you place food in a dry, heated pan and put the lid on. The natural juices of the food create steam.

When that happens, you spin the lid. As it rotates 360 degrees, the seal is formed, and your food begins to cook in its juices. The heat and steam surround the food, creating an oven-like environment on your stove. Hence, the name: 360 Cookware.

Vapor cooking conserves water, making it a green, sustainable process. It also offers a healthier way to cook, eliminating the need for oil or butter.

Do your research before trying vapor cooking. My first attempt resulted in a scorched pan and burnt food. Fortunately, 360 Cookware provides plenty of recipes and instructions to get you started.

All-Clad’s stainless steel and tempered glass lids fit snug on top of the cookware, but they’re not specifically designed for vapor cooking.

I tested All-Clad vs. 360 Cookware side-by-side to see if there really was a difference in the amount of steam escaping — and there was.

After spinning the 360 Cookware lid, there were no signs of steam escaping. I tried the same technique with All-Clad, and, unlike with 360 Cookware, the lid did not spin freely, and steam continued to escape.

Difference 4: Heat Conduction

I conducted a quick test to measure how fast and evenly 360 Cookware and All-Clad heat.

First, I poured two cups of cold water into both brands’ skillets. Then, I placed the skillets on the stove and turned the heat to high.

My goal was to see which skillet boiled the water quicker and how evenly bubbles dispersed across the cooking surface.

When cookware doesn’t heat evenly, you’ll see bubbles concentrated around the edges and middle of the pan (indicating hot and cold spots).

Water in the All-Clad skillet started to bubble after one minute and 55 seconds and reached a full boil after two minutes and 55 seconds.

The 360 Cookware skillet was a bit slower to heat. It took two minutes and 30 seconds for the water to bubble and three minutes and 24 seconds to come to a full boil.

The bubbles in the All-Clad skillet were dispersed evenly, indicating uniform heat distribution.

Unfortunately, bubbles in the 360 Cookware skillet were unevenly dispersed. As you can see below, bubbles were more prominent around the edges of the skillet.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean your food won’t cook evenly, these hot and cold spots could impact certain dishes.

Difference 5: Heat Retention

Heat retention is another critical characteristic of cookware. You want pots and pans that hold their temperature as you add ingredients.

Cookware with poor heat retention cools down quickly and delivers inconsistent results.

In general, the thicker the cookware, the better it retains heat. And, since 360 Cookware is slightly thicker than All-Clad, it should have superior heat retention. 

To validate this theory, I conducted another quick test.

Once the water began boiling, I removed the skillets from the heat and placed them on the counter.

After five minutes, I measured the water temperature in each skillet. I waited another five minutes (10 minutes total) and re-recorded the temperature.

At the five-minute mark, the water in the 360 Cookware skillet was 119°F.

And after 10 minutes, the water was 93°F.

The All-Clad skillet retained less heat after five minutes but maintained it better over the entire ten-minute period.

After five minutes, water in the All-Clad pan was 112°F, and 101°F after 10 minutes.

There’s one caveat to mention. I tested the All-Clad D3 skillet, which is the brand’s thinnest (only three layers) cookware. All-Clad might have performed even better if I tested the D5 or Copper Core skillets (both five layers).

Difference 6: Oven-Safe Temperature

All-Clad stainless steel cookware is oven and broiler safe up to 600°F. By contrast, 360 Cookware maxes out at 500°F and does not mention broiler safety.

All-Clad non-stick is oven-safe up to 500°F. 360 Cookware does not offer non-stick.

Difference 7: Where It Is Made

As mentioned earlier, all 360 Cookware is made in the US, specifically in West Bend, Wisconsin. All-Clad’s stainless steel collections are made in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Yet, All-Clad is not an entirely American-made brand. The hard-anodized non-stick collections are made in China. The non-stick ceramic cookware is made in Germany.

Difference 8: Manufacturing

All-Clad prides itself on using high-quality materials and stringent quality control over manufacturing to deliver exceptional products.

360 Cookware focuses on green manufacturing practices. The cookware is made by Americraft, and its eco-friendly manufacturing facility features 100% wind energy and reverse osmosis to preserve water usage.

Additionally, 360 Cookware doesn’t use harmful chemicals in its cookware or any manufacturing processes. All-Clad makes no such claims.

Difference 9: Company History

All-Clad has been a leader in fully-clad stainless steel cookware since the 1970s.

The company was founded by John Ulam, a revered metallurgist who held more than 75 patents for metal crafting.

At the time, bonding metals was a common practice, but Ulam was the first to make fully bonded (or cladded) cookware.

Since then, All-Clad has built its reputation by creating high-performing, elegantly designed cookware that lasts a lifetime.

Although most cookware brands have adopted the bonding process Ulam invented, All-Clad remains the leader in the market and is one of the more sought-after cookware brands.

By contrast, 360 Cookware launched in 2010 and is still a new brand. While not the first cookware brand to use vapor technology, it’s becoming one of the most popular.

Difference 10: Downsides

There’s a lot to love about All-Clad and 360 Cookware, but no product is perfect. Here are the drawbacks to expect with each brand.

Let’s start with 360 Cookware: 

• 360 Cookware only offers one cookware collection: 3-ply stainless steel with an aluminum core.
• The domed lids aren’t nearly as sleek as All-Clad’s flatter lids.
• The lid handle gets extremely hot because of the vapor cooking process.
• The lid can be difficult to remove due to the seal formed during cooking.
• If you place the hot lid face down on a cold countertop, it can get stuck; you’ll have to be patient and use a hot towel to get it loose again.
• 360 Cookware has limited reviews because it is a new brand.

Next, let’s review some All-Clad downsides:

• All-Clad handles are cupped, which gives you complete control when tilting or pouring but makes them uncomfortable. The complaints are so common that All-Clad created a version of the D3 collection called “D3 Everyday” with rounded, more comfortable handles.

• All-Clad is one of the most expensive cookware brands you can buy. It’s a leader in the cookware market and charges a premium due to the high demand.
• The most common complaint about All-Clad is that food sticks. Fortunately, you can minimize sticking with proper cooking and cleaning techniques.
• One of All-Clad’s main selling points is that the cookware is made in the United States. But that’s only true for its stainless steel collections. Customers often feel duped when they buy All-Clad non-stick and realize later that it’s produced in China.

Difference 11: Price

Since All-Clad and 360 Cookware source premium materials and manufacture their stainless steel pots and pans in the US, they are expensive.

All-Clad’s prices vary by collection, so the difference between the two brands depends on which options you compare.

For example, All-Clad D3 is comparable to 360 Cookware, but D5, Copper Core, and G5 are much more expensive.

All-Clad HA1 and Essentials are the brand’s least expensive collections; they’re much cheaper than 360 Cookware.

Keep in mind; pricing varies depending on where you buy either brand.

For current pricing on Amazon, refer to the following chart:

Bottom Line: Should You Buy 360 Cookware or All-Clad?

360 Cookware and All-Clad both produce high-performing and ultra-durable cookware.

All-Clad is an established leader in the premium stainless steel cookware market, while 360 Cookware’s main selling point is its unique vapor cooking design.

So, which brand should you buy?

Before I offer my recommendation, let’s recap the key differences:

• All-Clad boasts more collections, material choices, and construction offerings than 360 Cookware.
• 360 Cookware has a unique lid design that enables vapor cooking, a waterless method of cooking food in its own natural juices to retain moisture and nutrients. All-Clad does not offer this option.
• All-Clad stainless clad cookware is oven-safe up to 600°F; 360 Cookware tops out at 500°F.
• All-Clad delivers superior heat conduction and retention, according to my tests.
• 360 Cookware is American-made and sourced. Only All-Clad stainless steel cookware is made in the US; all other collections are made overseas.
• All-Clad’s manufacturing process focuses on quality control and premium materials. 360 Cookware’s manufacturing process is green and sustainable.
• All-Clad has been around since 1971 and has a long track record of quality. 360 Cookware is still a new brand (launched in 2010) and therefore unproven.
• All-Clad D3 and 360 Cookware are close in price, but most of All-Clad’s offerings are more expensive than 360 Cookware.

If an established cookware brand with a proven track record is important to you, go with All-Clad. All-Clad continues to perfect its bonding process and offers innovative pairings of metals to provide a variety of cooking experiences. 

For example, the Copper Core collection provides pro chefs with precise control, while D5 is more forgiving, ideal for the multi-tasking home cook.

However, if you are intrigued by vapor cooking technology, 360 Cookware is a solid choice. You can read more reviews and check it out on 360Cookware.com and Amazon.

If you’re still on the fence, I highly recommend All-Clad. It has been one of the best-selling cookware brands for decades for a reason. 

It performs exceptionally well and, if cared for, can last a lifetime. In fact, after testing dozens of options, I named All-Clad the best stainless steel cookware brand.

To learn more, check out my in-depth review of All-Clad or check it out on Amazon and All-Clad.com.